GB2356273A

GB2356273A - Providing an indicia on a substrate

Info

Publication number: GB2356273A
Application number: GB0027438A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Fergal Mulchrone
Original assignee: Terraillon Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Terraillon Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1999-11-09
Filing date: 2000-11-09
Publication date: 2001-05-16
Also published as: GB0027438D0; GB9926534D0

Abstract

A method of providing an indicia on a substrate, comprises providing one or more electronic indicia and fixing said one or more indicia to the substrate 2. A user 4 may select the indicia from an electronic bank 3 via the internet.

Description

2356273 A METHOD OF PROVIDING AN INDICIA ON A SUBSTRATE The invention

relates to a method of providing an indicia on a substrate.

By "indicia" it will be understood herein to mean any picture, decoration, motto, slogan or the like which is required to be placed on a substrate, for example for decorative and/or instructional purposes. Thus it is often the case that a consumer, when purchasing an item might find that the item is not decorated in quite the manner desired, or would prefer a choice. Moreover, a manufacturer or supplier of the item cannot for economic reasons maintain a stock of items with virtually limitless choices of decoration, so a selection has to be made, which limits the choice of the potential purchaser.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing an indicia on a substrate, comprising providing one or more electronic indicia and fixing said one or more electronic indicia to the substrate.

The indicia may be provided via the Internet.

The step of providing the indicia may be carried out at a position I I i 2 remote from where the indicia are fixed to the substrate.

A bank of indicia may be provided, the bank being accessed to select said one or more indicia, said one or more indicia being extracted from the bank.

The bank may be remote from the substrate. This provides for a remote accessing and choice from a variety of access points.

The substrate may comprise a weighing scale, particularly a personal weighing scale. This provides a consumer with the ability to "decorate" a scale with an indicia of choice.

The bank of indicia may be accessible via the Internet. This is a relatively easy method.

The indicia may comprise a picture, decoration, slogan, motto or the like. This provides a wide variety of choice to be made by a consumer.

The step of fixing the or each selected inclicia to the substrate may be carried out at a location where the bank of indicia is situated, or alternatively, the step of fixing the or each selected inclicia to the substrate may be carried out at a position remote from the bank of inclicia and from where that bank is accessed. In the former, the provider of the substrate can despatch a decorated substrate to the purchaser.

3 The indicia may be fixed to the substrate by a heat sealing process which may comprise providing the or each indicia in or with a plastic film, and then fusing that film to the substrate to fix the or each inclicia to the substrate. The indicia may be secured (permanently) fixed, or removably fixed to the substrate. The latter option provides the consumer with the ability to change the decoration.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provi ded a method of providing an indicia on a substrate, comprising providing an electronic bank of indicia, providing means to access the bank and select one or more preferred indicia, extracting said one or more indicia and fixing it to the substrate.

According to a third aspect of the invention there may be provided a substrate to a surface of which an indicia is fixed by a method as hereinbefore defined.

The substrate may comprise a scale, particularly a personal weighing scale.

Methods embodying the invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show respectively schematically three embodiments of a method according to one aspect of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals are used for like parts, there is shown three embodiments of a method of providing an i 4 indicia 1 on a substrate 2, comprising providing an electronic bank 3 of indicia, providing means 4 to access the bank 3 and select one or more preferred indicia 1, extracting said one or more indicia and fixing it to the substrate 2.

Thus in all the embodiments, there is a bank 3 of indicia retained electronically, and comprising a plurality of images 5 such as a picture, decoration, motto, slogan or the like. For example where the substrate 2 is a personal weighing scale there may be a picture of a thin person, or a plate of fruit, and a slogan such as "get slim". The bank 3 is created and maintained by the manufacturer or seller of the scale 2.

In Fig. 1, a user accesses the bank electronically at 4 via the Internet, and selects one or more indicia 1. The or they are then printed out at the bank by the manufacturer or seller, in hard copy 6, and the selected indicia is/are fixed to the scale 2, which is then despatched to the user at 4.

In Fig. 2, the purchaser has purchased and has possession of the scale 2. The bank 3 is accessed and preferred indicia is/are selected as before, the manufacturer or seller then forwards on the hard copy 6 and the purchaser fixes it to the scale 2 at 4.

In Fig. 3, the purchaser at 4 accesses and selects the preferred indicia as before, and prints it out at his location, and fixes it to the scale 2.

In every embodiment, the preferred indicia 1 is fixed to the scale by being combined with a plastic sheet which is then fixed as by heat sealing to the scale 2 for example to a surface on which a user stands to weight him or herself.

It will be understood that the bank 3 can be accessed from a variety of disparate locations, as indicated by 4'.

It will also be understood that the indicia can be provided as a free bonus, or can be the subject of a charge. The purchase of the scale plus indicia can be paid for electronically.

Moreover, the bank may include graphics software for providing graphical images.

In an embodiment of a method according to another aspect of the invention, a user selects a photograph, and then scans it into a computer to provide an electronic indicia. The indicia is then processed as in any of the embodiments described above. When the indicia is to be sent to the manufacturer or seller, it may be sent via the Internet.

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Claims

6 CLAIMS

1 A method of providing an inclicia on a substrate, comprising providing one or more electronic indicia and fixing said one or more inclicia to the substrate.

2. A method according to Claim 1, wherein a bank of electronic indicia is provided, the bank is accessed to select said one or more indicia, and said one or more indicia are extracted from the bank.

3. A method according to Claim 2, the bank being remote from the substrate.

4. A method according to any preceding claim, the bank of inclicia being accessible via the Internet.

5. A method according to any preceding claim, the indicia comprising a picture, decoration, slogan, motto or the like.

6. A method according to any preceding claim, the step of fixing the or each selected indicia to the substrate being carried out at a location where the bank of indicia is situated.

7. A method according to any of Claims 1 to 6, the step of fixing the or each selected indicia to the substrate being carried out at a position remote from the bank of indicia and from where that bank is accessed.

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8. A method according to Claim 1, the indicia being provided via the Internet.

9. A method according to Claim 8, the step of providing the indicia being carried out at a position remote from where the indicia are fixed to the substrate.

10. A method according to any preceding claim, the indicia being fixed to the substrate by a heat sealing process.

11. A method according to Claim 10, the heat sealing process comprising providing the or each indicia in or with a plastic film, and then fixing that film to the substrate to fix the or each indicia to the scale.

12. A method according to any preceding claim, the substrate comprising a weighing scale.

13. A method according to Claim 12, the scale being a personal weighing scale.

14. A method of providing an indicia on a substrate, comprising providing an electronic bank of indicia, providing means to access the bank and select one or more preferred indicia, extracting said one or more indicia and fixing it to the substrate.

15. A method of providing an indicia on a substrate substantially as hereinbefore described.

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16. A substrate to a surface of which an inclicia is fixed by a method according to any preceding claim.

17. A substrate according to Claim 1. comprising a scale.

18. A substrate according to Claim 17, comprising a personal weighing scale.